I hear ya Rory and have experienced that too.
But even if you take the genre of music out of the equation, only specific audiences are looking for a true artistic performance and again that is at concerts and venues of that specific nature.
In my huge area, Chicago, places that focus more on the artistry rather than the "are we having fun yet?" have dwindled from what they were. And thats even in the venues that program for the elders, baby boomers types who grew up through the times where more focus on the art was common.

Not because top musician/vocalist/artists aren't in the area, but because the requirements of the audience has changed. The clubs lounges and other venues are packed with half adequate talent and that happens just by opening the doors to the place.

The super ultra talents in the area have to promote and advertise in papers and with flyers posted in stores, their musical performances, months in advance to generate the audience.

I hated too, to see the dwindling of the music programs in schools which proved or reflected the loss and lack of interest in the art itself.

Days gone by, I could walk into any convenience store around here and buy an issue of Keyboard mag, or Downbeat mag which really focused on the music artist.
Well, now I have to go to the larger book stores to find them, even though the mag racks in the convenients, oscos, walgreens have increased their capacities 300%.

Looking at their selections now, the wants of society are on material things, cars, trucks, cycles, several guitar mags, and Women, Women, Women.


[This message has been edited by MrEd (edited 08-19-2006).]